HeartKids Victoria/Tasmania is a non-profit organisation focused on Childhood Heart Disease (CHD). We are dedicated to providing support, encouragement and hope to children affected by CHD and their families, while raising awareness of, and vital research funding for, this chronic disease.
CHD is a long term, life-threatening illnesses and as a child grows they can often face other related issues that further impact their life. HeartKids reach into every community to create a better world for children with CHD by helping them to develop their skills, realise their dreams and reach their full potential. We provide direct support, understanding and information to children and their families to assist them in their life's journey as they experience the many turbulent times and celebrate the milestones.
The incidence of CHD is far greater than most people expect. Although it comes as quite a shock to family and friends alike, an astounding eight Australian babies are born with heart disease every day. Heart defects are the most common birth abnormality, affecting one in every 100 babies.
There is no known cure for CHD. Once a heart kid; always a heart kid.
How will the funds be used?
HeartKids help care for the psychological and emotional wellbeing of the child and family after diagnosis, during treatment and post-surgery.
By providing education and resources for parents, HeartKids helps parents to provide the best possible care to meet their child's unique needs.
HeartKids' aim is to reduce the incidence and mortality rates of CHD whilst enhancing the quality of life of these children and their families. We do this by:
- Providing world class family-centred support and education services
- Funding research into the causes, treatment and management of CHD
- Advocating for the needs of children with CHD and their families
- Raising awareness of the impact of CHD on children and their families
Key Areas of Expenditure
HeartKids provides families with access to a dedicated support team that understands a family's journey when learning their child or unborn baby has a heart condition. This team provides a hospital based support at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne and a targeted service to assist the families in their own communities across Victoria and Tasmania,
By providing education and resources for parents, HeartKids helps parents to provide the best possible care to meet their child's unique needs.
HeartKids provides family support through hosting events and activities that bring families of heart children together, facilitating the development of important peer support networks.
HeartKids also eases the financial burden on many families by providing assistance towards accommodation and travel for extended and often unexpected stays in hospital, helping families to focus on caring for their child.
Through events and initiatives such as our Annual Teen Camp, HeartKids enables teenagers with CHD to step out of their comfort zone and try activities that they thought were out of reach due to their condition. These initiatives help heart children to develop their self-confidence and self-reliance, preparing them to manage their own health as they grow into young adults and move on from the paediatric health system.
HeartKids help support research projects looking to unlock the mysteries of CHD.
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Yes, as soon as your donation is processed.